FRISCO, TX – The Dallas Cowboys lost a good one during Wednesday’s practice, something that everyone thought was so minor turned into the Cowboys losing their starting left tackle for the first 3-4 months of the 2022 season.
Tyron Smith went down at the tail end of Wednesday night practice with a left knee injury. Nobody knew the severity of the injury and didn’t think much of it as Smith walked off the field on his own and into the locker room.
Everyone was shocked to find out Thursday morning that Smith had a left hamstring avulsion, meaning that the hamstring is not connected to the knee. Smith will undergo surgery on Friday to reattach that hamstring to the left knee. Recovery time on this surgery is 3-4 months and the Cowboys can expect to see Smith back sometime in December if everything goes smoothly.
With Smith being out 3-4 months that leaves a gaping hole at left tackle that Dallas is now in desperate need of filling. The Cowboys have some options and one of them is moving the rookie first round draft pick Tyler Smith to left tackle until Smith (Tyron) returns. Tyler Smith has been practicing the entire offseason and training camp at left guard behind Connor McGovern but he was a three-year starter as a left tackle in college.
Jerry Jones told First Take on Thursday morning, “It’s a big disappointment, none more so than for Tyron himself. But our game really is that and hello Tyler Smith. He’ll be an important part of this puzzle, our No. 1 draft pick.”
Another option is to bring in another vet from another team. Sources told us the Cowboys called Andrew Whitworth the retired Bengals and Rams left tackle. Whitworth was interviewed by sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung and he said that Dallas called and expressed interest in him returning to the NFL. Whitworth played for 16 seasons before retiring after the Rams won a superbowl in February.
“The problem is they’re calling and texting the wrong person. They need to be texting and calling Melissa Whitworth and the kids, because they have final approval on whether I’m ever going to play football again.” Whitworth told Hartung.
According to Mike McCarthy as of late Thursday night they haven’t made any decisions yet. The Cowboys hosted their Blue Carpet event tonight to kick off the season and he said tonight is about enjoying themselves and they will get back to work tomorrow.
Smith’s teammates spoke about his injury at the event tonight and all of them are praying for a speedy recovery for their teammates.
Ceedee Lamb told us that he got the phone call at 7 AM this morning from his brother and it was the first thing he was told when he woke up this morning.
Dak Prescott told us, “I mean 7 years ago I was in a similar position (after Romo was hurt), so being the optimistic man I am, just having a lot of hope in the next man standing up … (it’s) my responsibility getting that guy ready.”
